David Hughes is the Daily Telegraph's chief leader writer. He has been covering British politics for 30 years.

Bring me the head of Damian McBride

Tony Wright, the chairman of the public administration select committee, seems to be suffering from publicity depletion. How else to explain his bizarre declaration today that Damian McBride has disappeared off the face of planet Earth?

Wright wants McBride to testify to his committee on his sleazy emails as part of its investigation into special advisers and whether or not they should be funded by political parties rather than the taxpayer.

But can they find him? No they cannot. The Labour MP solemnly declares that McBride "seems to have disappeared without a trace and despite our best endeavours we haven't been able to trace him".

How very dramatic. How very newsworthy. Wright is supposed to be something of an expert on Whitehall. Has it occurred to him that the Number 10 switchboard, which can track down anyone, might be able to help? And what about the Cabinet Office payroll department? They will have McBride's address because that's where they sent his P45.

This would be too logical, of course. It would also deprive Wright of the opportunity for grabbing a silly headline.